Artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies are more than digital upgrades — they’re powering a manufacturing reinvention and changing the manufacturing floor. In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson highlights Hadrian’s vertically integrated model as a glimpse into the future. With real-world examples, she illustrates how AI can impact manufacturing and speed across the supply chain.

Hadrian is a manufacturing company that has built vertically integrated technology for high-precision manufacturing. In essence, Hadrian treats “the factory as the product”—a software-powered ecosystem that spans quoting, programming, machining, and inspection. Their mission is to accelerate American manufacturing in aerospace and defense by delivering components 10× faster and over 40% more efficiently than traditional suppliers. They are opening their third factory in Arizona to enable 4x the throughput to scale production.

As $17 trillion dollars of investments roll out in the U.S., defense manufacturing is valued with heightened geopolitical risk and the executive order to better protect the U.S. with an Iron Dome, and manufacturing gains momentum, demand is outpacing supply. As leaders review rapidly changing conditions proactively with predictive SIOP (Sales Inventory Operations Planning) models, they are putting aside resources to scale capacity and evaluating alternate methods to ramp up more quickly to meet customer needs. Innovative strategies and advanced technologies are such as the ones Hadrian is deploying will be essential. 

As Hadrian got started, they were concerned about critical item production. China has 90% market share of drones whereas the U.S. has almost none. Pharmaceuticals is a similar story with China having 95% domestic production and the U.S. imports. From a munitions standpoint, China makes 1000/year whereas the U.S. would run out in 7 days. Thus, scaling rapidly and re-industrializing is of paramount importance. Hadrian talks about achievements of 4x uptime, 10x workforce productivity, and reducing the training curve from 5-10 years to 30 days. In essence, we must innovate to change the game.

Smarter factories. Integrated models. Faster outcomes. Learn how AI is changing manufacturing — in under 2 minutes.

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